The bedroom: a private, personal space that should embody comfort and sanctuary. A space that should perfectly reflect your taste and lifestyle, as well as satisfying your practical day-to-day needs. These points in mind, consider your own inner sanctum; does it feel like a luxurious heaven on earth? If not, we can help.

- When you've decided on your look, don't rush into buying anything before sizing each potential item. When sourcing, carefully measure to envisage how everything will look back home.

Tip: Use newspaper templates to plot out proportions; doing this will avoid costly mistakes.

- Where will your focal point be? Perhaps it's the bed, an armoire or a dramatically dressed window. Focal points make ideal kickoff points for other aspects of your scheme; in most cases your bed will be centre stage, so afford it considered attention.

Decide which wall your bed will be positioned on and arrange other pieces accordingly. In rectangular bedrooms, we tend to put the bed on the largest wall diagonally opposite the door, although differently shaped rooms may call for a different approach.

If you're opting for a wall of closets, site them, if possible, behind your bedroom door (out of immediate eye lines as you enter) or perhaps to square off a strangely shaped floor plan.

Keep bedside areas well equipped by dressing with nightstands and lamps. This will add to symmetrical appeal, while providing handy locations to set alarm clocks, books or a glass of water.

At planning stage, ensure you have electrical sockets on either side of the bed and a means, if possible, to turn off overhead illumination without leaving your nest.

Add a comfy chair or chaise longue to provide somewhere to sit when dressing or to enjoy a coffee at the start of the day or a glass of wine at the end of evening.

Scour stores and antique markets for a unique accent piece such as an unusual dresser -this will add interest and stop your bedroom from looking like everyone else's.

- Opt for a generous bed, but one that doesn't hamper your bedroom's circulation space. Queen-sized beds are approximately 60 inches wide by 80 inches long, making them approximately seven inches wider and five inches longer than a regular mattress. This probably explains why queensized is the most popular choice for regular master bedrooms, guest rooms and single sleepers who want a bit more space.

King-sized beds, generally, measure 76 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long, and these extra inches provide an average couple with as much personal space as each would enjoy on a single bed.

- Certain colours are more suited to bedrooms but, as with every home decision, it's important to consider lots of options. Are there colours you naturally find reassuring? Is there a shade of soft pink, for example, that takes you back to childhood and reminds you of your comfort blanket? Or a shade of yellow that makes you reflect on your best overseas vacation?

Palest blue is a popular bedroom choice and is believed to promote calmness and serenity. The colour of the sky or the ocean, this clean tone settles the mind and may also help individuals work more productively; as such, it could be a great choice for kids' bedrooms.

Green, the colour of outdoors, is another popular choice and imparts a relaxing and rejuvenating atmosphere. Use lighter shades to proffer a clean look by day and relaxed ambience by night and employ darker tones for pattern or soft furnishing accents.

ewspaper's readership and corporate community. Please use the following guidelines ny questions regarding usage or other environment specific versions, please email If you fancy a little excitement, then opt for an energetic buzz with red and orange accents; the vibrancy of these colours will awaken your senses. Red is also the colour of conversation (and seduction), so if you like to chat (or get up to who knows what) in bed, it's the perfect shade for you! Yellow is an ideal tone to brighten your bedroom; it promotes joy and happiness. In daylight, yellow will et promote & Brand Guidelines a lively, cheerful feeling, while during the evening, it suffuses a cosy, homely atmosphere.

N REVERSE VERSION Black is perfect for moody teenagers intent on rebellion and long lies. Use too much, however, and your project room will be difficult to light and oppressive. White has the reverse effect and, applied liberally, will enlarge and brighten space. Use too much, however, and snow blindness will occur and results will be far from restful.

Mix both black and white and the crisp monochrome contrast will be clean and strong.

- 10 ways to make your bedroom feel larger: Go leggy: Less solid items take up less eye space, so opt for a bed with legs and a spindly headboard to furnish without consuming eye space.

Off the wall: Wall-mounted bedside shelves provide function without cluttering the floor, while wall-mounted lamps will keep surface clear.

Cushion the blow: Loads of cushions piled high on a bed can look great, but not in a small bedroom as they add too much detail and can be impractical to store when not on display.

Top floor: Opt for warm flooring in bedrooms such as wood and carpet and avoid ceramic tiles, marble or granite. There's nothing worse, after all, than getting out of bed in the morning and stepping on to chilly terrain.

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan are the hosts of HGTV's Colin & Justin's Home Heist (weekdays at 6 a.m.) and the authors of Colin & Justin's Home Heist Style Guide, published by Penguin Group (Canada). Follow them on Twitter @colinjustin or on Facebook (ColinandJustin). Contact them through their website, www.colinandjustin.tv

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